Machine for picking and cleaning cotton.



No. 830,102. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

' G. B. RICHMOND.

MACHINE FOR PIGKING AND CLEANING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED MAILE, 1906:

' -4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/nv 55155.; away? INVENIOR W By X A TTORNEYS no. 830,102. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906' G. B. RICHMOND.

MACHINE FOR PIGKING AND CLEANING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE 5 Nosso,1o2. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

G. E. RICHMOND. MACHINE FOR PIGKING AND CLEANING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 5, 1900.

I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3. I

553555- -I f iii-5 555- 1, v 1; Ii 7 1 3 A TTORNE Y5 PATENTED SEPT. 4. 1906.

G. E. RICHMOND.

MACHINE FOR PIGKING AND CLEANING COTTON.

' APPLICATION FILED Mum, 190a.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

"III/IIII/II/ 1. v KW I' /p ATTORNE [NVENTOR sra'ras arana orFroE.

GEORGE E. RICHMOND, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES L. DESEL, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

MACHINE FOR PlCKlNG AND CLEANING COTTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

implication filed March 5,1906. Serial No. 304,326.

To (1. .1 11111.0/11- out (.UlMZFIN/f Be it known that I, Gsonon E. RICHMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Machine for Picking and Cleaning Cotton, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for picking and cleaning cotton; and its object is to provide mechanism of this character which can be drawn over a cotton-field and which will remove the ripe cotton from .the plants and discharge it into a separator, where the cotton will be cleaned and finally discharged into suitable receptacles provided for it.

Another object is to provide pneumatic means for removing the cotton from the plants, said means being adapted to be applied to all portions of the plants automatica-lly.

A further object is the provision of novel mechanism for projecting the pneumatic picking nuunlwrs along various planes and at dill'erent angles, so as to insure the removal of all cotton from the plants.

Other objects arev to provide a compact and durable machine the frame of which is uiilized as a reccplm-ie for the lluid employed in ilm propulsion ol' the mechanism, and to provilii moans whereby thwartuating of all parts oi the nnuhiue are under the immediat control of one (narrator.

With ihe above and other objects in view the invention (ullSiSlS of a frame the sides of which aic preferab y formed of large pipes,

which cons-mute rtweplacles for oil or other. [iui-zi used in the propulsion of the machine. It suilsblc motor mounted on the frame and not only serves to propel the machine, but als art notes a fan which (auumunicaies, through a plurality of flexible tubes, with tobular piokingau'lns whirh are movably supported within and extend iron] oppositelydisposcd hoods. 'llzese hoods are pivoted to the forward n: of tire frame and have niech anisni whereby they can be readily raised or lowered. Means are provided within the hoods for projecting the picking-arms toward each other and at constantlychangi11g angles. so the t all portions of a plant located between the hoods will be acted upon by the arms and insure the removal of the cotton. The fan serves to suck the cotton through the picking-arms and to discharge it into a separator which is supported by the frame of the 4 machine and serves to remove sand, stones, and other objectionable materials from the cotton and deposit. them in receptacles provided for that purpose, while the clean cotton is collected in separate receptacles.

The invention also consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 isa view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, the bearings of the hoods being, shown in section. Fig. 3 IS a rear elevation, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section through one of the hoods and showing some of the numerous positions adapted to be assumed by the tubular picking-arms.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 and 2 are the rear and front axles, respectively, of the machine, each being formed of an upstanding yoke terminating in lateral extending bearings and in which the wheels 3 are mounted. front wheels are preferably pivotally connected to the front yoke 1 and upon shafts 5, with which they are adapted to rotate. These shattsextend upward above the upper deck 6 of the machine, which is mounted on the yokes l and is held in proper position by means of braces 7, which extend upward from said yokes. The upper ends of the shafts 5 have sprockets b thereon, around which extends a chain 9, which engages a drive-sprocket 1.0. This drive-sprocket is secured to a shaft H, which is mounted on the d ck 6 near its forward end and has a handwhr-el l2, whereby it may be readily rotated.- By means of this hand-wluel the machine can be guided while being propelled. Extending laterally from the yokes 1 and 2 and below the deck 6 are ruiming-boards 13, which constitute the lower deck of the ma chine and which are also supported by braces 7. The sides 14 of the frame are secured to the yokes 1 directly below the lower (lock and are in the form of pipes which are closrd at their ends and have funnellikev inlets 15, whereby oil or other fluid for use in propelling the mechanism may be supplied to the The bearings 4 of the is keyed or otherwise machine tubes. A valve 16 is located adjacent to each of the funnel-shaped inlets for the purposeof closing these tubes or reservoirs 14.

An engine, preferably of the hydrocarbon type, is mounted on the lower deck, as shown at 17-, and this engine is supplied with fluid from the reservoirs 14 through pipes 18, which extend from depending tubular extensions 19, arranged upon each of the reservoirs 14. While I have shown only one of these pipes 18, it will of course be understood that oneis provided for each reservoir 14.

A drive-shaft 20 extends from the engine 17 and is provided at one end with a frictionclutch21, operated by a lever 22, which is connected by means of a rod 23 with anactuating-lever 24, located at the front end of the The clutch 21 serves to couple shaft 20 with a short shaft 25, mounted in standards 26, and feathered on this shaft are oppositely-disposed beveled gears 27, which are adapted to successively mesh with the opposite portions of a large gear'2S. This gear 28rrotates with a sprocket 29, on which is mounted a drive-chain 30, extending over a sprocket 31, which rotates with one of the rear wheels 3. The gears 27 are adapted to be shifted into or out of mesh with the gear 28 by means of a lever 32, which is connected, by means of a rod 33, with an operating-lever 34, mounted adjacent to the forward end of the machine. Mounted on the shaft 20 adjacent to its other end is a sprocket 35', which drives a chain 36 extendingfover a sprocket 37 onvashaft 38. This shaft extends longitudinally of the center of the machine and adj a-- cent to the upper deck 6 thereof, and at its forward, end it is provided with a gear 39, which is for the purpose hereinafter more fully described A friction-clutch 40 is disposed at the forwardend of shaft 20 and serves to transmit motion therefrom to a short shaft 41, mounted at the-forward end of the machine a standard 42. This friction-clutch is adapted to be thrown into or out of o erative positionby means of a lever 43, whic is connected by arod 44 with an actuating-lever 45. A

gear-46 is secured to shaft 41 and meshes with This last-mentioned gear a smaller gear 47.

fastened to a shaft 48, which-extends into a fan-casing-49 and has a suitable fan rotatable therewith and within the casin i JournaTed within bearings '50 adjacent to the center of the forward end'of the machine is a shaft 51, on which is secured a car 52, which meshes with the gear 39-,- herembefore referred to. Smaller beveled gears 53 are also secured tothe shaft 51- ad acent opposite-f'acesofgear 52, and each of-thesefsmall gears 53-is inclosed by a box 54, whichexri tends'upw-ardfrom a hood'5'5'of' eculiar-com tour: The inner face of "each cod-is concaved in the direction ofitslength, but is subwithin drical separator 74,

and direct it into the box, hinder-the assage 'hopper78 epenr s stantially straight from front to rear. The rear of the hood is open and merges into the curved bottom thereof, while an upwardlycurvcd lip 56 is located at the lower forward end of the hood. The outer and upper surface of the hood is convcxed and is .of substantially the proportions shown in the drawings.

A face of each of the hoods 55, and journaled within the hood in rear of these slots are flexible shafts 58, each of which is preferably formed of a series of sections connected by universal joints, as shown at 59. The shafts are therefore capable of conforming with the contour of the hood and are at the same time capable of rotating. One of the shafts 58 is preferably disposed adjacent the rear of the hood,'while the other shaft is located adjacent the front thereof. The rear shaft .58 has a gear 60, which meshes with the gear 53, and another gear 61 is secured to said shaft and meshes with and is adapted to rotate a gear 62, secured to the forward shaft 58. Secured to each shaft 58 in rear of the. slots 57 are eccentrics 63, surrounded by straps 64, to which are secured clips 65. All of the eccentrics on each shaft are disposed out of alinement, so that during the rotation of the shaft the eccentrics will follow each other in their rotation. Each of the clips 65 engages a tubular picking-arm 66, which extends through one of theslots 57-, and this icking-arm constitutes the end portion of the flexible tube 67, which opens at one end into the fan-casing 49.

Each of the boxes 54 is ivotally mounted on the shaft 51, and. there ore the two hoods 55. are capable of swinging vertically. In order-that these hoods may be raised and lowered by the operator, a rod 68 is pivoted within each of the hoods,.and these rods are also pivoted to levers 69, connected by a cross-rod 70. nected tothe cross-rodby means of a link 72, and it is therefore a parent that by the proper manipulation o lever 71 the two le vers 69 can. be swung in unison, so as to raise or lower the hoods, as desired:

Supported above the frame of the machine upon standards 73 is an inclined cylinwhich is open at its ends. This separator'is inclined upward from the forward portion of the machine, and its lower front end communicates with the fancasing 49 through an outlet-pipe 75. A sandbox 76 is suspended from the forward portion of the separator and communicates with the interior thereof. The inletend of the box is provided withriddles 77 ,-which are in elined-rearwardly and serve to retard sand but which will not of cotton therefrom. A from the separator adjacent its center: and is: adapted to direct stones series of slots 57 is formed in the inner An actuating-lever 71 is conshafts 25 to gears 28 and. chains 30.

pending from the rear portion of the separator is a large hopper 80, which is adapted to open into a .detac able bag 81, which may be mounted on the lower deck 13 of the machine;

A wire screen, 82 extends'across the separator from the inlet end thereof to the upper end of hopper 80 and serves to deflect the cotton into the hopper 80 and at the same time permits air to'escape from the outlet end of the separator and to carry dust-and other like undesirable particles therewith.

While in the drawings and description of this machine I have shown and described but one engine and mechanism operated by it, it is to be understood that all of the mechanism herein described is duplicated, there being an engine, 17 .at each side of the machine and said engine actuating mechanism which is the exact duplicate of that described and illustrated. I do not, however, utilize duplicates of the actuating-levers 24, 45, and 34, but couple said levers 1n any preferred manner to the'duplicate mechanisms adapted to be operated by them.

In using this machine. for picking and separating cotton the same is propelled forward by throwing the clutch 21 into engagement with the shaft 25 and by shifting the gears 27, so that rotary motion will be transmitted in the proper directions, from the The machine is guided along the rows of cotton so that the lants will be embraced by the hoods 55. y properly shifting the clutch 40 motion is transmitted from the motor to the fan within casing 49, and a suction is therefore established through the flexible tubes 67. Shaft 38/receives its motion from shafts 20 through the chain 36, and the gear 39 thereof rotates the gear 52. As this gear is secured to shaft 51, the two smaller gears 53 will also be rotated, and therefore the flexible shafts 58 will be caused to revolve. Eccentrics 63 will therefore swing around the shafts and cause the tubular icking-arms 66 to be successively projecte and retracted Y through the slots 57, the free ends of said arms describing an ellipse substantially similar to Tthat shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

As the picking-arms of the two hoods are 'disposed at opposite sides of the plants, it will be obvious that this swinging, projecting, and retracting'movement of said arms will result in substantial] all portions of the plant being contacted by the arms, and therefore the cotton will be sucked into the arms and throughthe tubes and then discharged by the fans into the separators.

and other similar particles will fallbctween the riddles 77 into box 76, stones and other large objectionable particles will fall through the hoppers 78 into bags 79, the dust, &c., will. escape with the air through the screen 82, and thecottonwill fall into the ho pers 80 and bags 81.

t will be seen that all portions of the mechanism are operated by levers, disposed at one end of the machine, and therefore the entire 0 eration of picking and cleaning cotton can e controlled by one operator. The hoods 55 can be raised or lowered so as to act upon plants of different heights and to escape or pass over any objects which may be in the path of the machine and which might injure the hoods if the same should come in contact therewith. It will of course be understood that the yokes supporting the frame must be suitably braced, and for that reason the brace rods or beams 83 are provided. By utilizing the two gears 27 the machine can be driven either forward or backward at the will of the o erator, and by properly manipulating the c utch 21 the machine may be stopped or started. The two se arators are suitably connected in any desire -manner, as by means of braces 8-1, which hold them rigidly connected.

I claim 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a suction device, of flexible tubular pickingarms connected and movable in relation thereto and mechanism for positively actuating said arms independently of the suction device.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a suction device; of oppositely-disposed tubular picking-arms movably connected to the suction device and tion device; of tubular picking-arms con-- positively actuating said t nected to the suction device and movably mounted within the support and mechanism for ositively actuating said arms independ-' ent y of the suction device.

1 5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support, and a suction device; of tubular picking-arms conmounted within the support, and means for successively projecting and'retracting the arms within the support.

6. In aanachine of the' character described,

the combination with a sup ort, and a suc tion device; of flexlblefitubn ar picking-arms mo'vably connected totthe. suction device and nected to the suction device and movably i ed to the suction device.

within the support, and means for projecting said arms from and retracting them within the support.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support, and asuction device; of oppositely-disposed tubular picking-arms movable in the direction of their lengths within the support and connect- 8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support and a suction device; of oppositely-disposed tubular picki arms movably mounted within the support and connected to thesu'ction device, and means for successively projecting the arms from and retractingthem' into the support.

9. the combination with a plant-embracing su port, and a suction device; of tubular pic ing-arms movably mounted within the support and connected to the suction device, and

means for projecting said arms in various directions toward plants.-

10. In a machine of the character; described, the combination with e'ppositelydisposed hoods adapted to IGCBIVB" plants therebetween; of a suction device and tubular picking-arms connected to=the suction device and movable in the direction of their lengths within and adapted to project from the hoods. I

11. In a machine of the character described, the combinationwith oppositelydisposed hoods; of a suction device, and tubular picking-arms device and movable in the direction of their lengths within and extending from the hoods,

the arms of the two-hoods projecting toward one another.

12. Ina machine'or' the class described,the combination with oppositely-disposed hoods having their adjoining'faces slotted; of asuc-' tiondevice and tubular picking-arms con nected to the suction device and mounted to move in the direction of their lengths within the slots.

13. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination with oppositely disposedhoods having their adjoining faces slottedgof asuction device-and'tubular picking-armsconnectedto the suction device and movably mounted within the slots, and

In a machine of the character described,-

connected to the suction thereby,

posed hoods having their adjoining faces slotted; of a suction device, tubular pickingarms movably connected to the suction-device, and means for successively projecting, s'ivitnging and retracting the arms within the s o s.

'16. In a machine of the character dc scribed, the combination with oppositely-disposed hoods having their adjoining faces slotted; ofa suction device, tubular pickingarms movably connected to the suction device, and means for moving the arms successively to project, swing and retract themv within-their slots.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination with oppositely-disposed hoods having concaved a j rovided with slots; of a suction device, tubuar ickingarms' movable in the direction of their lengths within the slots and" iiexible.

oining faces tubular connections between said arms and the suction device. 18. In a machine of the character described, the combination with oppositely-disposed slotted hoods, of a suction device, tubular picking-arms mounted within the slots, flexible tubular connections between the arms and suction device, and means for successively projecting and retracting the arms within the slots. I

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination with oppositely-dis posed slotted hoods, of a' suction device, th

ular arms mounted within theslots, flexible tubular connections between the arms: and suction dev1ce,- and means for successively projecting, swing ng and retracting the arms within the slots;

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination With a hood, and a suction device of a rotatable eccentric within the hood, a tubular picking-arm connected to v and movable with t e eccentric, and a t'ubu lar connection between the picking-arms and the suction device. r

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hood and a suction device; ofa rotatable eccentric within the hood, a tubular picking-arm'connected to and movable with the eccentric; and a flehrible tubularconnect-ion ,between' t'he pickingarm and the suction device; 22. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hood and a suction device of a flexible rotatableshaft mounted within thehood, eccentrics'carried tubular picking-arms secured to'and. movable with the eccentric, and -flexib'leftubularieonnections between said arms'an h suction device. I

I '7 23. In a machine of the chafact'erjdescribed, thecombination with a slotted; hood of irregular contour, anda' suction device; of

a rotatable shaft conforming to the contour-1- sconce tatable shaft within the hood and conforming to the contour thereof, eccentrics mounted on the shaft, tubular picking-arms connected to and movable with the eccentrics, and flexible tubular connections between the arms and suction device.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination; with oppositely-disosed slotted hoods, of flexible shafts rotataly mounted within the hoods, a drive-shaft,

means for transmitting motion from said shaft to the flexible shafts, a suction device, tubular picking-arms communicating therewith, and means operated by the flexible shafts for successively projecting and retracting the picking-arms.

26.- In a machine of the ,character de scribed, the combination with a hood and a 'suction. device} of an eccentric rotatably mounted within the hood, a strap rotatable upon the eccentric and a tubular picking-arm secured to the strap and connected with the suction device.

27. In a machine of'- the character de scribed, the combination with a hood and a suction device; of an eccentric rotatably mounted within the hood, a strap rotatable upon the eccentric, a tubular picking-arm secured to the stra and movable therewith, and a flexible tu ular connection between said arm and thesuctign device.

28. In a machine of the I character described, the combination-with a suitable support having ower mechanism thereon; of a ood pivota y mounted upon the support, tubular picking-arms within the hood, means within the hood and operated by the power mechanism for successively projecting and retracting the picking-arms in the direction of their lengths. 1-

29. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support having power mechanism thereon; of oppositelydisposed hoods pivotally mounted upon the support, picking devices mounted within the hoods, and means carried by the hoods and operated by the power mechanism for actuating the icln'ng 'devicesin the direction of their lengths.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support and hoods pivoted thereto; of a suction device carried by the sup ort, tubular picking-arms mounted within t e hoods, flexible tubular connections between said arms and the suction device, powermechanism carried by thesupport, and means within the. hoods and operated by said mechanism for projecting the picking-arms from and retracting them into the hoods.

31. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support hav: ing power mechanism thereon, and a suction device; of oppositely-disposed hoods pivotally and adjustably mounted upon the support, flexible shafts within the hoods and actuated "by the power mechanism, tubular picking-arms within the hoods, flexible tubular connections between said arms and suction device, and means operated by the flexible shafts for successively projecting, and retracting the arms.

32. In a machine of the character de-.

scribed, the combination with a support, of" oppositely-disposed hoods adjustably supported thereby, and pneumatic picking means extending through and movable in the direction of their lengths within the adjoining faces of the hoods. I v j 33. In a machine of the character described, the combination withva support, of oppositely disposed forwardly extendin hoods having their adjoining faces'concaved and spaced apart at their forward ends, and pneumatic picking means extendingthrough and movable in the direction-of their lengths within the concaved faces of the hoods.

34. In amachine of the character described, the combination with a support, oft

hoods pivotally connected 'thereto and hav:

ing their adjoining faces concaved, pneumatic picking means opening through the concaved faces of the hoods and movable in the direction of their lengths, and means for adjusting the hoods upon their pivots during said movement of the picking means.

35. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support hav ing power mechanism thereon and a shaft 0 erated by said mechanism; of oppositely disposed hoods ivoted upon the "shaft, pneumatic icking evices within and extending from t e-adjoining faces of the hoods, and mechanism within the hoods and operated by said shaft for successively projecting the picking devices from and retractingthem into the hoods.

36. In" a machine of the character described, the combination with a support having power mechanism thereon and ashaft operated by said mechanism; of oppositelydisposed hoods pivoted upon the shaft andhaving slots in their adjoining faces, shafts rotatably mounted within the hoods and o erated by the pivot-shaft, pneumatic. pic

ing devices extending throughv the slots, and

means operated by the shafts within the hoods for successively projecting said defvices from and retracting them; mto the v hoods.

37. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support and a suction device thereon, of oppositely-dis posed similar hoods pivotally connected to the support, tubular picln'ng-arms movably mounted within the hoods and connected to the suction device and manually-operated means for swinging the hoods simultaneously. 38. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a portable frame having a separator thereon and hoods extending forward from and adjustably connected to the frame; of tubular picking-arms mounted within the hoods and movable in the direction of their lengths, a fan interposed between said arms for sucking material thereinto and discharging it into the separator, 'mechanism carried by the frame for independently or simultaneously propelling the frame and fan.

39. In a machine of the character described the combination with oppositelydisposed forwardlyprojecting hoods adapted to receive plants therebetween; of a suction device, tubular picking-arms movably connected to the suction device and within and adapted to project from the hoods, and mechanism for positively actuating the pick ing-arms independently of the .suction de- 40wIn-aa machine of the character described the combination with oppositelydisposed forwardly-projecting hoods; of a I suction device, tubular picking-arms connected to the suction device and within and extending from the hoods, the arms of the two hoods projecting toward one:another, and mechanism for positively moving "the arms independently of the suction device.

41. In a machine of the character de-.

the suction device and tubular picking-arms withinthe slots, flexile tubular connections between said arms and the suction device, and mechanism for positively actuating the arms independently of the suction device.

43. In a machine 'of the character de scribed the combination with a support; of oppositel disposed forwardly projecting hoods a justably carried by the support, pneumatic picking means within, and extending through the adjoining faces of the hoods, and mechanism for positively projecting said means from the hoods.

44. In a machine of the character described the combination with a supp'ort; of forwardly-projecting hoods adjustably connected to the support and spaced apart, the

adjoining faces of the hoods being concaved, and pneumatic picking means disposed within the concaved faces of the hoods, and movable in the direction of'their lengths.

45. In a machine of the character described the combination With a support; of forwardly-projecting hoods adjustably con nected ,to the support and having their adjoining faces concaved to produce an opening therebetween of irregular contour, the

concaved faces of the hoods being slotted from their rear to their front portions, and

pneumatic picking devices movably mounted within said slots.

46. In a machine of the character described the combination With a support; of forwardly-projecting hoods adj ustably con.-

nected to the support and having their adjoining faces concaved to produce an opening therebetween of irregularcontour, the concaved faces of the hoods being slotted from their rear to their front portions, pneumatic picking devices within the slots, and mechanismfor positively moving said devices within the slots.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 1

G. E. RICHMOND.

Witnesses:

CHAS. L. Dnsn, A. A. NOACK, 

